One of the single most devastating moments as a young sports fan was going to the '87 divisional round game in Candlestick against the Vikings. As a 10 year old I really didn't remember much from the '84 Superbowl and this was the first time I'd ever felt truly obsessed and apart of a team. I remember getting to the stadium, the 49ers were 13-2 Superbowl favorites, 1# Offense 1# Defense. When the 49ers came to play no team could beat them, I had no doubts, the 8-7 Vikings were just a footnote in my mind.
The Vikings won that game 36-24. I was devastated, people couldn't believe how poorly Bill Walsh called the game, how bad the decision making was. All summer there were reports that Bill Walsh would be fired, he ended up being stripped of his GM duties. The whole off season seemed to be filled with rumors of rifts between players and coaches. The mystique seemed to be over, the dynasty died against Minnesota.
The 49ers started 6-5 in the '88 season, but could have easily been 2-9, this was a team that needed a lucky hail marry and the best run of Steve Young's career to avoid losing 6 straight games. I remember the news outlets talking about the rest of the NFL catching up to the West Coast Offense, defenses had figured them out. The players had reportedly lost faith in Bill Walsh, they felt he was actively sabotaging Joe Montana, benching him for health reasons in favor of Steve Young, all while Montana claimed to be healthy enough to play.
Amidst all the controversy the 49ers ended up winning dominantly in their next 4 games clinching a playoff spot before being embarrassed in the last week of the season by the Rams.
They stumbled into the playoffs, they were written off, good enough to maybe win one game, but this was the Bears year.
The 49ers ended up cruising their way to a Superbowl win, outscoring their opponents 82 - 28, and reigniting their dynasty.
This whole season for the Hawks has given me flashbacks to those years following the 49ers. The controversy of the Super Bowl, the rumors of locker room rifts, reports of the NFL figuring out our Defense, It all sounds so familiar...
Most people will probably write the Hawks off too "good enough to win one game, but this is the Panthers / Cards year" to be fair the odds are certainly stacked against the Hawks this year... but I like this team more with their backs to the wall.
The Vikings won that game 36-24. I was devastated, people couldn't believe how poorly Bill Walsh called the game, how bad the decision making was. All summer there were reports that Bill Walsh would be fired, he ended up being stripped of his GM duties. The whole off season seemed to be filled with rumors of rifts between players and coaches. The mystique seemed to be over, the dynasty died against Minnesota.
The 49ers started 6-5 in the '88 season, but could have easily been 2-9, this was a team that needed a lucky hail marry and the best run of Steve Young's career to avoid losing 6 straight games. I remember the news outlets talking about the rest of the NFL catching up to the West Coast Offense, defenses had figured them out. The players had reportedly lost faith in Bill Walsh, they felt he was actively sabotaging Joe Montana, benching him for health reasons in favor of Steve Young, all while Montana claimed to be healthy enough to play.
Amidst all the controversy the 49ers ended up winning dominantly in their next 4 games clinching a playoff spot before being embarrassed in the last week of the season by the Rams.
They stumbled into the playoffs, they were written off, good enough to maybe win one game, but this was the Bears year.
The 49ers ended up cruising their way to a Superbowl win, outscoring their opponents 82 - 28, and reigniting their dynasty.
This whole season for the Hawks has given me flashbacks to those years following the 49ers. The controversy of the Super Bowl, the rumors of locker room rifts, reports of the NFL figuring out our Defense, It all sounds so familiar...
Most people will probably write the Hawks off too "good enough to win one game, but this is the Panthers / Cards year" to be fair the odds are certainly stacked against the Hawks this year... but I like this team more with their backs to the wall.